Summary

• $100 USD in Mexico can go a long way, covering various activities, food, drinks, and accommodations.
• $100 can buy you a week of experiences in Mexico, from dining out to guided tours and beach hotels.
• From huaraches to doctor's visits, tacos, and car rentals, $100 can provide a diverse Mexican experience.

Although Mexico is potentially one of the countries that give tourists culture shock in a lot of (good) ways, there's no denying it's pretty affordable, despite the peso to USD rate constantly fluctuating. The big question is - is American money worth more in Mexico? Let's find out!

What can a handful of pesos get you in Mexico? Considering the fact that under current exchange rates, $100 USD equals approximately 1,671 MXN, so is $100 a lot of money in Mexico? Yes, you can get a whole heck of a lot from $100! From affordable all-inclusive Mexican resorts to must-see (and free) attractions all over Mexico, your money might be more valuable than you think.

So, how far does a dollar go in Mexico? It's time to find out - and what it'll get you in terms of good food, drinks, entertainment, transportation, and even a night's stay in Mexico.

UPDATE: 2024/03/23 19:35 EST BY SUNIL PURUSHE

This List Is Further Updated By More Ways To Use $100 In Mexico

What can 100 Dollars buy in Mexico? Now we know that it can also rent a Mexican villa or even pay for watching Humpback Whales off the Mexican Coast.

18 Premium Seats To See Lucha Libre

Watch the iconic style of professional wrestling in Mexico with colorfully masked performers

Lucha Libre is one of Mexico's most popular sports; travelers can watch it live when visiting the country. Mexican Wrestling is the second most popular sport in the country, only behind soccer.

Travelers can watch Lucha Libre in various spots in Mexico City, including Arena Mexico, Arena Coliseo, and Arena Naucalpan. The general tickets are affordable, costing less than $5. However, guests can also opt for premium seats or ringside tickets for approximately $35 for a perfect view. The tickets can be purchased online.

FREEDOM tickets are expensive and not the best. The best seats are usually in the 8th or 10th row.

17 Two Tickets To The Underwater Museum

Underwater museum with over 500 life-size sculptures to promote coral life

Mexico also has incredible underwater attractions. The Cancún Museum of Underwater Art, or MUSA, opened in 2009 and quickly became a popular attraction. Tourists planning to visit the underwater museum in Cancun can expect to see sculptures on the bottom of the sea and encounter different species of marine life.

The tickets for snorkeling in the region cost approximately $50, while scuba diving can surpass $100. Travelers can purchase their tickets online or from local agencies, and tours depart from Cancun and Isla Mujeres.

16 Just Over Six Days' Average Pay In Mexico

Some workers earn as little as 8,410 pesos in a month

First, it's worth noting that at current exchange rates, your $100 will equal upwards of 1,671 pesos in Mexico. That could amount to less than a week's worth of wages for a Mexican national, depending on their industry and skill level. Some employees in Mexico make as little as 8,410 pesos in a month, while others can average around 148,000, notes Salary Explorer.

While finding work as an expat might not be tough for Americans in Mexico (it's often considered one of the easiest countries for Americans to immigrate to), it can be challenging for the people living there to find lucrative work. Each day can be a struggle, which is a perspective travelers should be aware of going into their spending sprees at all-inclusive resorts.

15 Traveling 120 Kilometers In A Taxi

Authorized taxis are the safest, quickest, and easiest form of transportation in Mexican cities

Let's say you've just stepped off the plane in Mexico City, and you need to catch a taxi (or an Uber) to your hotel or all-inclusive resort. According to Mexperience, average taxi fares from the airport to the outskirts of the city could range up to MX$550. With Uber, you can likely expect to pay a little more, but regardless, the trip will be affordable.

In short, you'll be able to make that $ 100 USD stretch for the entire trip's transportation, even if you take cabs to cover every kilometer. In fact, you can probably afford about 120km of travel during your trip for less than a hundred bucks.

14 Enough Beverages To Serve The Entire Bar

Alcohol is cheap in Mexico, definitely cheaper than in the US and Canada

One of travelers' favorite things about Mexico is the cheap and readily available booze, especially beer. There's a ton of variation when it comes to brands, IE domestic versus import, but in general, beer is fairly affordable. You can expect each 16-ounce beer to cost about 20 pesos.

Yes, that means each beer costs only about 85 American cents. So, with a hundred bucks, you could buy a round of drinks for the whole bar... multiple times, depending on the size of the bar!

13 20 Pairs Of Authentic Huaraches

These are made of woven leather, giving a unique appearance from an artistry passed down through generations

Mexico loves its huaraches, and we're not talking about the knockoff versions people in the northern areas tend to favor. Nope, Mexico's handmade huaraches are usually for sale in local markets, and they're a classic souvenir that you really can't pass up.

For most Mexican residents, spending MXN$100 on a pair of huaraches can seem pretty steep. But for travelers with cash to burn, that equates to about 20 pairs of huaraches to bring home to friends... or to stock your closet with all the different styles.

12 See All The Cenotes (More Than Once)

These deep water wells that stay at a maximum of 75°F are unmissable when in Cancun, the Riviera Maya, or Tulum

Mexico has a lot of cenotes, underwater caves filled with sparkling water, and amazing Instagram photo ops. And while tourists tend to flock to these spots, the entry fees are pretty affordable.

The Yucatán Peninsula has many amazing cenotes to visit. Seeing the Gran Cenote in Tulum costs about 180 pesos (or ten bucks in USD), while other spots like Cenote Ik Kil (near Chichen Itza) charge 80 pesos for entry. Basically, you can see all the cenotes you want if your budget is $100 USD (and you can get to and from the far-flung attractions).

11 One Night At An All-Inclusive Resort

Breathtaking scenery, luxurious lodging, delicious cuisine, and the warmest Mexican hospitality

In some countries, a hundred bucks wouldn't get you a deposit on a room, let alone a single night in an all-inclusive hotel. And while not every resort is that cheap, there are a handful where you can spend one night for under $ 100 USD.

This might even be the best use of your spare cash since all-inclusives tend to add in your food and beverage costs plus on-site amenities like the pool and even some spa services. It sounds like a pretty affordable deal!

10 Two Nights In A Beach-Adjacent Hotel

A relaxed atmosphere that offers an upscale, sophisticated experience with fine dining options and high-class amenities

While the stereotypical spring break destinations like Cancun and Acapulco can be pretty cheap, they're not the ideal spots for a more grown-up vacation. If you're part of the more mature set, you might consider Puerto Vallarta as your seaside Mexican destination.

The great thing about Puerto Vallarta is that hotels here start at about $40 per night. So, you can stay two nights near the beach in Puerto Vallarta for less than a hundred bucks. BRB, going to go pack our bags!

9 A Week In A Hostel

Co-living with people from different cultures with different languages can be an experience of a lifetime

If your tastes are a bit more basic (or you just want to stretch every peso), staying at a four-star hotel might be too much. In that case, consider a hostel in Puerto Vallarta (or anywhere else in Mexico) for less than 20 bucks USD per night. That means you can stick around Mexico for nearly a week if you catch a multi-night deal.

Staying at hostels isn't for everyone, but for single travelers or couples, they can be a great way to experience a different country and a different culture and create bonds and experiences like a hotel never can.

8 Piles Of Delicious Tacos (Of All Types)

This traditional Mexican food is a small hand-sized corn or wheat-based tortilla topped with a filling of literally anything

The quality and cost of tacos can vary widely across the country, but the price also changes depending on your filling choices. In general, however, a Carne Asada (beef) or al pastor (pork) taco will cost you less than 20 pesos. Fish or shrimp tacos can be more expensive, of course, given the high cost of seafood (even near Mexico's many beaches). Still, about 22 pesos is probably reasonable to expect.

If you roll up to a curbside taco stand practically anywhere in Mexico, you can get about three weeks' worth of lunches with your hundred-dollar bill. That's somewhere around 108 tacos, depending on your filling and whether you grab a beverage to go with your meal.

7 A Handful Of Doctor's Visits (Or A Couple Of Emergencies)

A regular doctor visit in Mexico can cost approximately 400 pesos or roughly US$23, making it very affordable

While no one wants to run into an accident while abroad, if you have to get hurt somewhere, Mexico's probably a decent place to do it. In fact, it might cost you less to head straight to the doctor's office (or emergency room, as necessary) than it does to invest in travel insurance.

Seeing a regular doctor for everyday issues costs 400 pesos or roughly US$23, while specialists like cardiologists tend to charge more. Diagnostic tests can cost up to a third less in Mexico compared to the United States or Canada.

Of course, then you have stories like the one from the expat family Gringos Locos 6, who blogged about an ER visit involving an X-ray, stitches, antibiotics, pain medicine, and cleaning supplies. The grand total? Just over 1k pesos, or $55USD.

6 Just Over A Week Of Dining Out

Trying authentic Mexican food can be one of the great joys of visiting Mexico, and it's typically very affordable

At this point, it's no secret that the US dollar goes quite a long way in Mexico. Whereas the average person in the U.S. can expect to spend anywhere from $30 to well over $100 on one dinner depending on the restaurant, the resulting tab in Mexico is very different.

There, the average cost of a dinner out is $10 USD - therefore, even at an upscale restaurant, one could afford to dine out at least eight to ten times per week... and possibly even more.

5 A Week Of Car Rentals

Several reputable international rental firms operate in Mexico, including Europcar, Avis, and Rent-a-Car

The average cost of renting a car in Mexico (with the proper insurance and licenses, of course) is extraordinarily cheap. Compared to the U.S., at least! For example, in Mexico City, one can plan to spend $12 on a car rental/day if planned in advance, and sometimes even less than that.

Therefore, even paying $12/day, a 7-day rental will cost a traveler only about $84 - which comes in nice and tidy underneath the $100 USD mark.

4 Two Days Of Guided Tours Of Teotihuacan & Tlatelolco

Visit the historical site of Tlatelolco and the Pyramids of Teotihuacan

Some of the world's most stunning archeological marvels are located just outside of Mexico City and were built by the Aztecs and other related civilizations. No one can visit Mexico City and not explore ancient Teotihuacan and see the pyramids of the Sun and Moon (plus the Out Lady of Guadalupe Basilica).

Day tours (including pick up) to these three cultural sights only cost around $59 - and that's for a seven-hour day trip. So $100 should be enough for a day trip from Mexico City plus lunch. The experience is kinda like seeing the pyramids of Egypt - but in Mexico.

3 Almost Buy A Hot Air Balloon Ride

Explore the landscapes of Teotihuacán Valley and other sites in Mexico for an unforgettable experience

The price of a hot air balloon ride from Mexico City to Teotihuacan is around $125. That includes pick up and breakfast. The adventure is between four and nine hours long and is one of the best ways to explore the wonders of the ancient pyramids that Mexico is so famous for.

The price of a hot air balloon ride in Mexico may be a bit too expensive for those on a budget, but it is still much cheaper than the equivalent hot air balloon ride in the United States. A similar shared hot air balloon flight in the United States will typically cost $250-350 per person.

2 Rent A Villa For A Day

Villas offer larger spaces, ideal for family groups or friends traveling together

Renting a villa guarantees you the best time with those who matter most and ensures you get the most out of your Mexico vacation. With some of the most spectacular locations, there are villas available for rent across a broad price range in Mexico.

The low cost of living in Mexico ensures that renting a villa is cheaper than anywhere in the US, and it is the most intelligent way to spend $100 on accommodation.

1 Go Humpback Whale Watching

Led by marine biologist guides to see the massive creatures in Cabo San Lucas

The Sea of Cortez near Cabo San Lucas harbors a rich marine ecosystem as diverse and spectacular as any on Earth. On the trip, cruising past the Arch and the sea lion colony, you will head further away from shore in search of migrating humpback whales.

The whales aren't the only attraction on this trip. Dolphins, California Sea Lions, and plenty of seabirds mark their presence as well. The trip is over 2 hours, so there are plenty of opportunities to get great sightings.

Carry a fast camera and plenty of sunscreen.